Finding a Designated Driver
You should make sure to secure a designated driver whenever you plan to have a night out celebrating that will involve consuming alcohol. While it is true that you may not readily find volunteers for the job, your loved ones and friends would probably much rather be slightly inconvenienced for one night than see you put yourself in harm's way. Drink driving is a serious offence in the UK, and one that is very difficult to "get away" with. While legal concerns should not be first and foremost when you consider driving after you have consumed too much, it is a serious matter than can have long-lasting ramifications on your future as a driver.
The best approach by far is to secure a designated driver before you head out for the night. Friends will sometimes arrange a system by which they rotate on who is the designated driver for a given outing. As frequently the person designated can feel bored or left out when unable to participate, the system of rotation guarantees that no one person is burdened by the responsibility too often. If you do not have such a system in operation currently, approach several friends who also enjoy having a night out on the town to see if they would be interested in such a set-up.
Legal Matters of Drink Driving
The UK roadways are carefully monitored and policed. It is precarious to speed, drive aggressively, or break any traffic regulations for this very reason. It is particularly unwise, and dangerous to your driving future, to get behind the wheel of your vehicle when you have consumed an unsafe amount of alcohol. If you are caught drink driving and charged with the offence, this can bode poorly for your chances of maintaining your driving licence. Even if you do keep your licence following a charge, chances are the driving insurance rates will be adversely affected to the point that they may become impossible for you to afford. You could also be denied coverage by many agencies as well.
When a police officer suspects, based on erratic driving patterns, that you have consumed too much alcohol or are not getting enough sleep before driving, he or she is entitled to pull you over and ask that you participate in a breath analysis. Know that if you were to refuse this without a valid, verified reason, you would be committing an offence by resisting. If your breath indicates an alcohol level of 35 micrograms or above per 100 ml of breath, you will most likely be escorted to the police station where you will be required to give additional samples. You will be charged with an offence if further samples verify that your alcohol content in relevance to your breath is 40 micrograms or greater per 100 ml. Being charged, as mentioned can result in serious long-term consequences. For this reason, as well as for the physical safety or yourself and other motorists, you should always secure a designated driver before consuming alcohol away from your home.
When You Have Not Prepared
Finding a designated driver can prove more difficult in certain circumstances. While planning ahead is always the preferred route, you may, at some point in your driving career, wind up in a circumstance where you have neglected to plan ahead. If you are out somewhere and discover that you have consumed more than you intended to and thereby do not feel safe driving, you should be commended for recognising this and not operating your vehicle. Always find a means to contact a family member, friend, or even amenable co-worker who can come pick you up.